The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

what mixer to buy

sharhamm's picture
sharhamm

what mixer to buy

Had a kitchenaid stand mixer but the gears stripped.  Now looking for something else.  Have a zojurushi (sp?) bread machine that I use mainly to mix and knead bread dough.  The trouble is I like to use a biga once and a while and this taxes the machine.  I miss my kitchenaid mostly for making cookies, cakes, and cheesecakes.  There is only the two of us with occasional company dinners.  I've been looking at the bosch compact.  Is this doable for cookies and cheesecakes?  Any improvements in the kitchaids that I should be looking at?  Any ideas out there would be helpful.

 

AlanG's picture
AlanG

and it's fine for all my baking needs.  It's a 6 quart model and I also have the smaller 3 quart bowl for cookies and cakes (it comes with it's own beater as the 610 beaters are too big).  I've mixed up to 2.5kg of bread dough without any issues at all. 

DanielCoffey's picture
DanielCoffey

The KitchenAid (Artisan flip-top I presume) and probably be repaired for general use. If the nylon worm gear stripped it is a simple replacement. If it is the metal gears you may be covered in warranty.

Isand66's picture
Isand66

I've repaired them twice on my KA and it's not so simple unless you happen to be good with that kind of thing.  The first time I paid a repair shop to do it for about $125, then it happened again so I asked my friend who is good with fixing things to help me.  After having to do this twice on my 600 model and once on an older smaller model my wife banned me from using either for bread and I bought the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer and have not looked back.  I highly recommend this one.

DanielCoffey's picture
DanielCoffey

Typo - *can be repaired

joann1536's picture
joann1536

I received this from the family last Christmas to replace my 14-year old 5 qt. KA.  I was perfectly happy with the old one, but it was a bit small for mixing up the larger batch recipes.  This one does it.  I like it a lot and use it all the time.

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

The compact is a work horse, despite its small size.   I make cheesecakes in a food processor, but use the Bosch for dough all the time and it works great.  You will find more reviews on the Bosch in the Baking Equipment forum further down the page. 

bread1965's picture
bread1965

How about not getting a mixer? Depending on your age/health, it may make doing it all by hand impractical.. But I  wonder what percentage of us on this board actually use a machine for bread? I have used one in the past, but lately haven't been with good results.. just a thought..

FrugalBaker's picture
FrugalBaker

I have been using this stand mixer for quite a while now and it is a great, all rounder mixer from bread to cake and cookies. Not sure if it's the same with yours though. A friend of mine, who owns an Artisan, flip model didn't have much luck as I do with mine and hers was only 2 years old. 

 

FrugalBaker

dablues's picture
dablues

I have KitchenAid Commercial NSF Model 8990B0 that I've had since August, 2013.  This one has metal gears, and I haven't had any problems with it.  Am sure by now there are newer models.  It isn't a Tilt Head but a Lift instead.

bread_to_be's picture
bread_to_be

It is quiet and when it comes long kneading, it takes the work with aplomb.

drogon's picture
drogon

and it's noisy )-:

Actually, we have 2 - the kMix - one which is the Kitchen-Aid look-a-like which is quiet, but used for domestic stuff and a Chef Major which I use in the bakehouse. the Major is noisy, but it's not shown any signs of strain so-far. I did take it to its limits when I got it - it said it could knead up 2.4Kg of dough, so I tried it - and it worked, sort of. Gearbox got hot though. These days it's used mostly for cakes and meringues but I throw the occasional bit of dough in it - e.g. brioche when I can't be bothered kneading by hand.

There is a photo somewhere of mad Willie (of Willies Cacao, here in the UK) using a domestic Kenwood chef (older model I think) for 10 hours to conch some chocolate... Think I saw it on twitter...

I fear that the cheaper ones, like others have gone down the route of cast gears rather than machined. (I suspect the Major I have is one of those)

I wish I could get a dough spiral for the Kenwood (I have one on my old A200 - much better than the hook!)

-Gordon

sharhamm's picture
sharhamm

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.  I have spent the weekend reading all kinds of reviews.  I almost went with the Bosch Compact but I is recommended mostly for bread making.  Seems like the Kitchenaid changes their item numbers and it's hard to zero in on certain models recommended here.  My budget is limited so I decided, even though I told myself I wouldn't, I ordered another Kitchenaid.  I thought I would give it a try again as this one has metal gears and a spiral doughhook,  which some say puts less stress on the motor.  I bought it at Costco because of a $50.00 rebate and Costco's return policy. It came to $347.00 with taxes and shipping.  It is a Professional and I hope it meets my expectations.  In the reviews there were some not liking the bowl shape and being unable to buy other bowls and splash guards.  As long as I had my previous Kitchenaid I had a splashquard I never used and only used the one bowl.  Hope I haven't made a mistake.  I am going to use it like mad for the next month and if any problems, back it will go.  Thanks again everyone.

AlanG's picture
AlanG

first two speeds for bread. Most all of the bread I bake only involves 2-3 minutes on speed one to mix ingredients (followed by an autolyze as appropriate) and then 3 or so minutes for gluten development with bulk fermentation and stretch and folds to follow.  Most all the KA gear problems come with the less expensive Artisan Stand mixers which are under powered for bread mixing or using mixers on speeds higher than #2 for bread dough for periods of time of 10 minutes.  I've never noticed my KA getting more than just mild lukewarm under the above conditions and I've gone up to 2.5kg of dough.

joann1536's picture
joann1536

You got a good deal on it, and the spiral dough hook is nice.  The bowl is big, and this model also accommodates the ice cream attachment and probably all of the others as well.  Also, this splash guard goes all the way around and is nicer than the one I had on the 5 qt. KA. I have used mine to make Jason's Cocodrillo Ciabatta probably about 50 times already, and that is quite a beating, no pun intended.  30 minutes at speed 8!  If that alone hasn't killed my mixer by now, I doubt anything will.

fotomat1's picture
fotomat1

is great...almost never any questions asked. Take pictures before unpacking and save the box and packing..rebox it properly....it will make for an easier return..trust me!!